The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Washburn, IL covers 137.1 miles and takes about 2h 49m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, Adlai Stevenson Expressway, I 39 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 47.2 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.35 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
68.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Des Plaines is in Chicagoland. It is an inner-ring, northwest suburb of Chicago with two distinct portions: a suburban northern portion reminiscient of other, nearby northwest suburbs (including Niles, Park Ridge, and Mount Prospect), as well as a built-up southern portion with the businesses, hotels, and other amenities of the O'Hare Airport corridor (much like Rosemont, Chicago's O'Hare neighborhood, and Elk Grove Village).
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 49m. Total distance: 137.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 49m highway drive covering 137.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and Adlai Stevenson Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 47.2 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 47.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Adlai Stevenson Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.6 miles in near I 294 / Tri-State Tollway.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 137.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 18.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
18.6 mi into trip|~25m in|I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294 / Tri-State Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
19.8 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 23
Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
7
20.5 mi into trip|~28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 55 South: Saint Louis
7
46.8 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Iowa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 250B
Toward I 80 West: Iowa
6
94.8 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 79A
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomin...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Des Plaines, IL and Washburn, IL, road signs point toward St. Louis, Bloomington and Wenona.
St. Louis
19.8 mi in|~26m
Bloomington
94.8 mi in|~1h 53m
Wenona
118.9 mi in|~2h 19m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
47.2 mi
50m
Adlai Stevenson Expressway
25.9 mi
32m
I 39
23.6 mi
25m
Tri-State Tollway
17.5 mi
22m
700 North Road
9.1 mi
13m
Main Street
5.4 mi
9m
2160 E Rd
3 mi
5m
South Des Plaines River Road
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 47.2 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Plaines, IL and Washburn, IL.
1
Start on Henry Avenue
0.1 mi·25 sec·Henry Avenue
2
Turn right onto South Des Plaines River Road
1.8 mi·3 min·South Des Plaines River Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward I 294 South: Indiana
4
Merge onto I 294
11 mi·14 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 294
4.8 mi·5 min·Tri-State Tollway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 294
1.2 mi·1 min·Tri-State Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 23Toward I 55: Chicago, St. Louis
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 55 South: Saint LouisUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 55
26 mi·32 min·Adlai Stevenson Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 250BToward I 80 West: IowaUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 80
47 mi·50 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 79AToward I 39 South, US 51 South: Normal, Bloomington
13
Merge onto I 39; US 51
24 mi·25 min·I 39; US 51
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward IL 17: Lacon, Wenona
15
Turn straight onto IL 17
9.1 mi·13 min·700 North Road
16
Turn left onto IL 89
3.0 mi·5 min·2160 E Rd
17
Continue on IL 89
5.4 mi·9 min·Main Street
18
Keep slight left at fork onto IL 89
0.4 mi·37 sec·North Jefferson Street
19
Arrive at destination
IL 89
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 30 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.6 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washburn, IL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Des Plaines, IL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Des Plaines, IL
This is one driving day of about 137.1 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Des Plaines, IL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 47.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68.6 mi from Des Plaines, IL
· 1h 25m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In a growing Chicago neighborhood, diverse people and stories intertwined. All were seeking opportunity. Some succeeded. Others were limited—by race, gender, or economic status. Their stories came tog...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 18.9
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.1
0
$14.40
$6.58
Efficient EV
34.3
0
$12.00
$5.48
EV Truck/SUV
54.8
0
$19.19
$8.77
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Des Plaines, IL
Evening
in Des Plaines on Friday
Local time
6:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Washburn, IL
Evening
in Washburn on Friday
Local time
6:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
22 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 49m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Des Plaines, IL to Washburn, IL covers 137.1 miles and takes about 2h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Adlai Stevenson Expressway, I 39. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68.6 miles from Des Plaines, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.35 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 137.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 18.6 miles (I 294 / Tri-State Tollway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Des Plaines, IL and Washburn, IL, road signs point toward St. Louis, Bloomington and Wenona.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
